SSA, located at the St. Lawrence Chapel, 110 State Street, Harrisburg, is a classical music academy for young people — Harrisburg’s first, opened in 2005. Our mission is to provide high-quality music instruction and activities to the broadest constituency in the greater Harrisburg area, regardless of age, gender, race, color, creed, national origin or ability to pay.

SSA, while housed in a historic religious structure, is open to all Harrisburg area students in grades 1 through 12, as well as adults. We welcome students of all beliefs and backgrounds from public and private schools, as well as those being home schooled and cyber schooled.

SSA offers ample scholarship funds awarded by need so that all musically talented children in the Harrisburg area have equal access to the kind of tutoring and musical nurturing that only a true music academy can provide.

SSA instructors are professional musicians and music educators, specialists who provide high-quality instruction that encourages students in the development of their musical talents. Instructors’ credentials include The Julliard School, Westminster Choir College, Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts, The Hartt School of Music, University of Miami, Temple University, Pennsylvania State University, Kutztown University and Lebanon Valley College, plus their individual voice and instrument studies and performance experience.

SSA brings together the art of music and its appreciation and mastery through the emerging talents of our young people to help make ours an ever-more vibrant, diverse and culturally aware community.

SSA is a resource for school music teachers and directors in the community. It is a place where they can send promising students to enrich their musical experience while enabling the students to contribute even more to their school programs.

SSA provides students with the opportunity to study musicianship in group violin classes, music theory and music history and to join in chamber music ensembles for the experience of performing with their musically motivated peers. Students may also be chosen by their instructors to perform with SSA’s Traveling Troubadours ensemble at social functions and gatherings in the community. During the summer, we offer the week-long Klassical Kids Camp and elementary school and middle school piano camps.

SSA music events include student recitals, given twice a year in the St. Lawrence Chapel. The Honors Recital, an auditioned student recital, is given in June.

The SSA semester calendar • The fall semester begins in early September and runs through mid-December.• The spring semester begins in early January and runs through mid-May.• The summer semester begins in early June and runs through late August.

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